CLASS 1A
THE WORD: Alto is a program steeped in pride and that, ironically, is the ‘Jackets motto for 2013. Former Head Coach
Keith Gardner had won 80% of his games in eight seasons
with the black and gold, so whomever replaces him has
their work cut of themselves. Look for Alto to be in the mix
once again for a deep sojourn into postseason play. The
Yellowjackets went four rounds in 2012 and finished with
11-3. Team speed and strength at the skill positions give
the ‘Jackets confidence heading into 2013. Senior tailback
Jacolby Whitaker had a ridiculous 2012, finishing with 2696
yards and 41 TDs. The 6’0”, 195 pound Whitaker should
attract serious college attention with his size and speed.
Fellow senior Zack Sturns is back at the offensive controls.
The 6’ 3”, 190-pounder completed 55 of 101 passes last fall
for 919 yards and 10 TDs. He was picked only twice and
added 1262 yards on the ground with 13 TDs. Another senior Anfernee Black was Sturns’ favorite target. Black pulled
in 26 passes for 464 yards and 5 TDs. Alto’s defense is
anchored by a pair of juniors in 6’ 3”, 200 pound linebacker
JaVie Ontae, who racked up 52 stops, four sacks and a pick
last year. He’s joined by defensive back Leroy Lewis, who
had 42 tackles and a team-best four interceptions. Should
the ‘Jackets need a field goal, junior Niolas Leon is a good
bet to make it. Leon was 60 of 68 on PATs and made good
on 5 of 8 field goal.

SAN AUGUSTINE WOLVES
ENROLLMENT: 183 ( 2)
2012 RECORD: 9-3 1A Div. I Area Finalist
THE COACH: Donald Hubbard
THE PLAYERS: JaMikel Roberts (Jr., QB), Anwar Davis (Sr.,
RB), Dez Randle (Sr., WR), Jarvis Payne (Sr., OL), Jeremy
Jenkins (Jr., LB), Y’Venske Rushing (Jr., OL), JD Brown (Jr.,
WR), CJ Berry (So., ATH), E.J. Barnes (So., OL)
THE WORD: Replacing 17 seniors will be a mighty tall order if
the San Augustine Wolves are to continue their steady rise
under third year boss Donald Hubbard. The Wolves were
howling in 2012 to a district title and advancing to the area
round of the playoffs. The 9-3 finish was a modest improvement from Hubbard’s initial campaign in 2011 when they
wound up 8-2 and out of postseason. “We are going to be
young and built around juniors and sophomores. We have a
small senior class that will need to step up and lead,” said
Hubbard. A stout offensive line could be SA’s best bet for
success in 2013. Senior Jarvis Payne leads the way. The
6’ 2”, 315 pound Payne hopes to cause just that to the opposition. Junior Y’Venske Rushing is poised for a breakout
on the the line. The 6’0”, 230 pound Rushing hopes to open
holes for the running game, while 6’0”, 270 sophomore EJ
Barnes expects to contribute. The backfield of junior signal
caller JaMikel Roberts and senior tailback Anwar Davis
return to the fold as does senior wide out Dez Randle. Junior linebacker Jerry Jenkins spearheads the Wolf D, while
sophomore athlete CJ Berry is too good to keep off the field.

PINELAND WEST SABINE TIGERS
ENROLLMENT: 177.5 ( 3)
2012 RECORD: 9-3 1A Div. I Area Finalist
THE COACH: Todd Stark
THE PLAYERS: Hunter Cabral (Sr., WR/LB), Jeremy Williams
(Sr., OL/DL), Dakota Dew (Sr., OL), Dustin Bragg (Sr., OL),
Nick Williams (Sr., RB/DB), Austin Stephens (Sr., WR/DL),
Reshod Williams (Jr., QB/DB), Joshua Duffey ( WR/DB), Kirkland Wilson (Jr., TE/DL)
THE WORD: The Tigers under Todd Stark have qualified for
postseason in four of his six years at the school. Last year,
West Sabine advanced to round two before being taken out
by Mart. Stark is hoping 8 starters on both sides of the ball
spell a return to the dance. The Tigers employ the spread
on offense and rely on junior quarterback Reshod Williams
to set things in motion. He’s joined in the backfield by Nick
Williams. The senior tailback totaled 1000 yards on 97
carries and has big-play potential. The offensive line is anchored by another Williams. Senior Jeremy Williams totaled
70 pancake blocks in 2012 and open many a hole for the
run game to flourish. The 5-3 defensive scheme is paced
by senior outside linebacker Hunter Cabral, who racked up
170 total tackles last fall. Stark believes the Tigers will be
strong in both the offensive and defensive lines, while building depth at all positions is pivotal if West Sabine is to make
to postseason for a fourth consecutive season.

SHELBYVILLE DRAGONS
ENROLLMENT: 195 ( 1)
2012 RECORD: 3-7
THE COACH: JasonFerguson
THE PLAYERS: Jessie Rose (Sr., RB/DB), Travis Henkle (Jr.,
WR), Cole Mooney (Jr., WR), C.J. Watson (Jr., WR), Colton
Brown (Sr., OL), Wyatt Windham (Sr., OL), Landon Wilburn
(Sr., RB), Dee Osby (Jr., WR)
THE WORD: With only one trip to the postseason in better
than a decade, first year coach Jason Ferguson has his work
cut out for him. Rebuilding jobs are nothing new for Coach
Ferguson who went to Memphis two years ago and got that
downtrodden program into the playoffs. The new coach will
be trying to change an atmosphere that’s produced just two
winning seasons in 10 years. If the Dragons are to breathe
fire once again they’ll have to put their hopes on a talented
cast of pass catchers led by juniors Travis Henkle, Cole
Mooney and C.J. Watson. Shelbyville last went to the playoffs in 2010, so expectations should be tempered as this is
a tough district to be rebuilding in.

THE WORD: It’s been 15 autumns past since the Cushing
BearKats have tasted postseason honey. Third year coach
Danny Robey is hoping this year proves to be a charm. The
Kats will still have a young contingent that dropped nine of
10 games in 2012. A lot of the hope rests on the shoulders
of junior Jacob Smelley, who doubles as tailback and middle
linbacker. Cushing runs a multiple offense and would like
to get the ball in the hands of junior Cameron Burk, who
like Smelley, goes both ways at wide out and strong safety.
With a half dozen offensive returnees and seven more on
defense, Cushing will certainly be more competitive in 2013.
Two way senior lineman Jessie Williamson should step up
and provide senior leadership for an otherwise young squad.

DISTRICT 11-1A - DIVISION I

IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

HULL-DAISETTA BOBCATS
ENROLLMENT: 177 ( 1)
2012 RECORD: 7-4 1A Div. I Area Finalist
THE COACH: Josh Finney
THE PLAYERS: Kevin Braxton (Sr., RB), Dustin Welch (Sr.,
ATH), Aaron Moseley (Sr., WR), Austin Edmonson (Sr., RB),
Cade Huckabay (Jr., QB), Darrell Lavalais (Sr., ATH), Chris
Herman (Jr., RB), Kentarious Lavalais (Sr., DL)
THE WORD: The Bobcats experienced a rejuvenation in
2012 as they rolled to a district title in Coach Josh Finney’s
inaugural season in Hull-Daisetta, and then gave the Alto
Yellowjackets all they could handle in an area game that
came down to the last possession. The Bobcats will be led
on defense by the explosive ATH Darrell Lavalais, reigning
District MVP, Kentarious Lavalais on the defensive line, and
Dustin Welch. Austin Edmonson is a force for the Bobcats
in the linebacking corps and will be a key contributor on
that side. Junior Cade Huckabay is the likely choice to run
Finney’s Slot-T offense, though several players will get looks.
The Bobcats will have a weapon in the 6’ 3” WR Aaron Moseley that they lacked in 2012, and his explosive speed and
leaping abilities will take the top off many defenses when
the Bobcats pass. Year number two of “Finney Ball” (so
dubbed by the locals) could spell not only another district
crown but a deep playoff run as well.

COLMESNEIL BULLDOGS
ENROLLMENT: 161 ( 4)
2012 RECORD: 5-6 1A Div. I Bi-District Playoffs
THE COACH: Fancy Johnson
THE PLAYERS: Cody Walsh (Sr., RB/LB), Chris Carr (Sr., LB),
Garrett Wheat (Sr., OL), Ryan Tyler (Jr., WR), Matt Bailey (Sr.,
QB), Zach Bryan (Jr., DB), Dylan Falcon (Sr., DL)
THE WORD: The Bulldogs once again sniffed the playoffs
in 2012, and Coach Fancy Johnson expects Colmesneil to
make a big leap forward in 2013. Sr. RB/LB Cody Walsh will
be the lynchpin of Johnson’s I-formation offense and he will
look to duplicate his 1,600+ yard 2012 season in 2013.
The defense is a fluid situation as of now, with LB Chris Carr
leading the way along with Walsh pulling double duty at MLB.
The QB situation is up in the air as well, with several candidates auditioning for the job, headed by senior Matt Bailey.
Whomever Johnson settles on at QB, he will have junior WR
Ryan Tyler on the outside to keep defenses from overloading
on the running game. This wide-open district is the Bulldog’s
for the taking if they can get past the new bully of the district
in Hull-Daisetta.

SARATOGA WEST HARDIN OILERS
ENROLLMEN T: 168 ( 2)
2012 RECORD: 4-5
THE COACH: Steve Stewart
THE PLAYERS: Mason Lawson (Sr., RB/DL), Payson Melancon
(Sr., ATH), Jarred Baab (Sr., WR/DB), Corey Brown (Jr., RB/
DB), Robert Ryan (Sr., OL/DL), Jonathan Cantrell (Sr., OL/DL)
THE WORD: The Oilers narrowly missed the 2012 playoffs,
remaining in contention until Week 10 in Coach Stewart’s
first season. Now Stewart faces the daunting task of rebuilding in 2013 an Oiler squad that lost a great deal of depth to
graduation in 2012. Look for several players to get a look
for the QB job left void by the graduated Calvin Ridge, with
ATH Payson Melancon the most likely candidate to start. The
Oiler rushing attack will be paced by stalwart RB/DL Mason
Lawson, who, paired alongside the speedy Corey Brown in
the backfield should give the Oilers some bite offensively.
The Oilers offensive line will be led by OL’s Robert Ryan and
Jonathan Cantrell, both of whom are loads for opposing defensive lines to handle. As was the case last season, depth
will again be a concern for West Hardin with multiple starters (such as Lawson, Melancon, Baab, and Brown to name a
few) playing iron man football, never leaving the field.

DISTRICT 12-1A – DIVISION I

IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

MART PANTHERS

ENROLLMENT: 169.5 ( 5)

2012 RECORD: 12-3 1A Div. I State Finalist
THE COACH: Rusty Nail
THE PLAYERS: D’Marcus Cosby (So., RB/LB), DeNerian Thomas (Jr., QB/DB), Collin Nail (Jr., RB/LB), Shannon Cordell (Sr.,
OL/DL), Walker Love (Sr., WR), Austin Rauls (Sr., DB), Trevian
Medlock (Jr., WR/DB), Jacob Burney (Jr., OL/DL), Bryan Scott
(Jr., RB/DB), Bryson Nail (So., K)
THE WORD: Mart appears as explosive as usual athletically,
and this season the Panthers also have experience with six
starters returning on each side of the ball. This experience
returning along with the five extra games they played a year
ago puts Mart as one of the favorites to win the state title
in 2013. QB Thomas had a monster sophomore season
and returns to pilot the offense. Super sophomore Cosby,
the brother of former University of Texas stars Quan and
Quincy Cosby, will be a major force on both sides of the ball,
there’s no doubt Thomas and Cosby will have college recruiters flocking the small town just outside of Waco. There’s
plenty of other big names as well, LB Nail was all-state as a
sophomore and should be among the top defensive players
in all of Class 1A. Replacing the production of graduated WR
Quincy Bryant will be key in preventing teams from stacking
the box to slow Thomas and Cosby, leading candidates are
Love and Medlock.

BOSQUEVILLE BULLDOGS
ENROLLMENT: 183 ( 3)
2012 RECORD: 11-2 1A Div. I Regional Semi-Finalist
THE COACH: Clint Zander
THE PLA YERS: CJ Collins (Sr., QB), Trent Andrews (Sr., OL/DL),
Greyson Gonzalez (Jr., RB/DB), Drew Hayes (Jr., WR/LB), Luis
Juarez (Sr., LB), Will Carpenter (So., LB), Ricardo Banuelos
(Jr., RB), Kyle Donaldson (Sr., OL), Fulton Murray (Sr., WR)
THE WORD: With six starters back on offense and five on
defense, Bosqueville is poised for another big season after
losing only to Mart in the regular season in 2012. A big
reason is the presence of Collins and Andrews. Collins ( 6-5,
195) passed for 2,500 yards, rushed for 600 and accounted
for 38 TDs last fall, while Andrews ( 6-1, 275) anchored the
offensive line and made 155 tackles, 36 of them behind the
line, with 9. 5 sacks and 16 QB pressures. Running behind
Andrews and the offensive line will be Gonzalez again after
he racked up almost 1,200 yards on the ground and 300
through the air as a sophomore. Andrews will be helped
defensively by Hayes, who will also provide a proven pass
catcher for Collins. Linebacker Luis Juarez will also be a key
cog on the Bulldog defense.